72 | Family farm invests for the future The Beeches are breeding moderately framed cows capable of producing fast-growing calves. Improving productivity as well as preparing for the challenges of a changing climate is helping secure the future of the Beech family’s Surreydale farm. The Beech family have been farming in Pahiatua for five generations. Today Simon and Kelly Beech, together with Simon’s parents Martin and Philippa Beech, own the 2000-hectare property where they run more than 8000 ewes and 400 breeding cows. All progeny is sold as store stock with the business focused on producing well-grown, high-performing animals that meet market demand. The family has built its sheep flock around a Romney-Coopworth cross, a combination Simon says delivers the strengths of both breeds - the fertility and mothering instincts of the Coopworth with the structure and size of the Romney. The flock is managed through a rotational grazing system for most of the year. Following weaning around onethird of the lambs are sold immediately, another third leave a month later, and by April all store lambs have been sold. The family targets an average sale weight of 30 kilograms ensuring lambs leave the farm well grown. While the business has been achieving a lambing percentage of 135 per cent the goal is to lift lambing to 140 per cent with one strategy involving grazing the bottom third of hoggets off the property to improve their performance and overall flock productivity. The cattle operation follows a similarly practical approach. Rather than chasing larger-framed animals the Beeches are breeding moderately framed cows capable of producing fast-growing calves that reach good sale weights efficiently. Investment in infrastructure has also helped improve stock performance. Large paddocks, that once ranged between 10 and 15 hectares, have progressively been subdivided into approximately four-hectare blocks making winter grazing easier to manage and supporting stronger cattle growth rates. Climate change is also influencing long-term planning across the property. With some natural waterways now drying up during parts of the year, the family has begun constructing additional dams, several of which are supplied by natural springs. Some waterways now dry up seasonally so it’s important to be proactive to ensure water continuity, says Simon. At the same time they are extending the farm’s reticulated gravity-fed water system. A neighbouring farm’s conversion to forestry also created an unexpected opportunity to improve the business. The Beeches were able to exchange ON FARM » Waikuku Farms Karen Phelps PH. 06 376 7181 MOB. 027 477 8036 Specialising in livestock cartage & general freight transport in the lower North Island region 61 Short Road, Pahiatua, New Zealand, 4982 brandfmurdoch@xtra.co.nz around 150 hectares of their steeper, less productive country for easier land that offers greater production potential. “Going forward it gives us easier country so we can increase the stocking rate slightly and get better performance,” explains Simon. The additional land also came with valuable infrastructure including a wool shed and sheep yards. The family now has three wool sheds and yard complexes across the property, reducing the Your Experts in Earthmoving and Power Distribution. Delivering top-quality civil contracting services across New Zealand’s North Island for nearly 30 years. andrew@andene.co.nz 027 296 3504 www.andene.co.nz need to move stock long distances for key management tasks. “There is no need to get animals three kilometres to the original shed and yards,” says Simon. Alongside investing in the farm itself the Beeches have also been investing in the future of the industry and have supported the Growing Future Farmers programme. “It’s been a good fit training up young people,” says Simon. “It’s rewarding seeing students develop skills.” By balancing productivity gains with practical infrastructure improvements and a willingness to adapt, the Beech family is positioning Surreydale farm to remain resilient and profitable for generations to come. “We try to keep it as simple as possible,” says Simon, “but we aim to get as many lambs and calves from the animals as we can. It’s about getting the basics right really.”
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